Santiment: Average Cardano Wallets Suffer 43% Losses in the Last 12 Months

TL;DR:

• Investors average 43% losses over the last year, while the asset has retraced 74% from its high of $1.19 in January 2025.
• ADA’s market capitalization has fallen out of the global top 10, leaving the majority of current holders in a position of unrealized losses.
• Santiment data shows a deeply negative MVRV, which historically signals a capitulation phase preceding institutional accumulation periods.

On-chain metrics for the Cardano network reflect a landscape of high bearish pressure, with active wallets averaging 43% losses over the past year. With this retracement, the asset fell out of the top 10 by market capitalization, intensifying negative sentiment among retail traders.

Average wallets that have been active on the Cardano network over the past year are netting a return of -43% on their investments. Memes aside about the altcoin's major -71% price decline since September, this extreme negative MVRV value is generally an indicator of $ADA being… pic.twitter.com/LzQRKhobQe

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) March 24, 2026

The MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) indicator shows that, in practical terms, for the typical investor, selling ADA at current levels would crystallize significant losses. However, this scenario of negative profitability is often a technical precursor to a trend reversal, as the market seeks to balance returns toward 0% over extended timeframes.

Despite the pessimism, whales are taking advantage of the dips to accumulate in discount zones. This action by large holders is fundamental to establishing a market floor while the price struggles to maintain its structure against global volatility.

Technical Analysis and ADA Recovery Levels

From a market perspective, the price has remained in a persistent downward trend since its 2025 peak. Recovery attempts have repeatedly hit supply walls located between $0.30 and $0.33, where a lack of buying volume prevents a solid structure shift.

On the other hand, traditional oscillators show extreme oversold readings, reinforcing the thesis of a possible short-term technical bounce. If macroeconomic conditions improve, breaking the $0.33 level could pave the way toward more ambitious targets at $0.50 and $0.75.

In summary, while the financial pain for the average ADA holder is evident, historical Santiment data suggests that current loss levels are not sustainable in the long term. A demand recharge zone at $0.22 appears as the last bastion for bulls before exploring new multi-year lows.